Chairman of the Greenlandic Parliament Jens-Frederik Nielsen (D) signed an agreement with Minister of Justice Peter Hummelgaard (S) on Wednesday to take over responsibility for the flag area. This took place in Copenhagen in connection with the chairman's current stay in Denmark.
The new agreement means that the Greenland Self-Government can itself set rules for Erfalasorput and for the use of foreign flags in the country.
– It is a natural development that we are taking over more and more areas of responsibility. This taking over is not legally extensive, but has great symbolic significance, as it concerns our Erfalasorput. Going forward, we will look at a more strategic, prioritized and systematic taking over of our own areas, says Jens-Frederik Nielsen.
Minister: A strong symbol
The Dannebrog is considered a national issue and will therefore continue to be regulated by the Ministry of Justice. The Government of Greenland and the Ministry of Justice state that the two parties will ensure continued cooperation in the flag area.
The Danish Minister of Justice is also pleased with the new agreement.
– The Greenlandic flag is a strong symbol of identity and self-government, and therefore it is natural that the rules are now taken over by the self-government. At the same time, we have maintained a system that respects the Commonwealth when it comes to the use of the Dannebrog and the Faroese flag, Merkið, in Greenland, says Minister of Justice Peter Hummelgaard.
It appears from a joint statement from the parties that the process began with an inquiry from the then chairman of Naalakkersuisut, Muté B. Egede (IA), in September 2024.
His desire to reclaim as much of the area as possible was subsequently upheld by the current Greenlandic government under Jens-Frederik Nielsen.
